Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise an issue relating to the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill 2022, which came before the Dáil last night. For those who sat in and listened to the debate in the Dáil - I did see a few Senators present - it was exceptionally moving. We met with the people coming out afterwards with a very heavy heart. As a man with African roots who had been here said, so many people are going to be excluded from the Bill. Thousands of people have written emails to us. We have had all the emotion and all the tears. Indeed, many Senators in this House have shed a tear. We now have an opportunity to be in solidarity with the people affected. I make no secret of the fact that I grew up in institutional care for 18 years. I was always there. This is not about me. I remember the first day I entered Leinster House. I was so conscious of my past, my identity, and what it meant to me as someone who had very little education. I worked in a bakery from the age of 11 and was happy to do so. I bought a bicycle with my first month's salary and was happy to do so. It did not have mudguards, lamps or carriers but it was two wheels to freedom in my community. I was brought up in Dún Laoghaire and chose to remain there and was elected to the local council. However, this is not about me. I made a commitment when I came to the Seanad that I would never forget my past.I would openly talk about it, and advocate for it. We still have an opportunity to seek to amend this legislation. This morning I read the report of the Joint Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Many of its members are here. I saw their pictures on the cover. I look forward to them engaging on this next week. I hope we can take our courage in our hands and put some sort of amendment forward on this Bill. We have the opportunity. Let us do it. I have said one thing. That Chamber will be full of people. I have asked people to come here. We have to look people in the eye. We cannot shed tears and pretend we are hurt and wounded if we cannot stand in solidarity with these people. I do not ask the Leader to respond today. All I ask is that we please think of our own words, our own commitments and obligations and, hopefully, we can have a respectful and meaningful engagement on this legislation when it comes before us.